travel
5 destinations to explore this spring
The best time to explore Vienna, Austria, in all its springtime glory is during May. – Traflagar pic, February 4, 2016. Spring is the season of renewal when milder climate sees flowers blooming and trees regrowing their foliage. Most places are also off-season for travelling which means less crowd and more time to soak in the surroundings.
Here are five places to visit this spring, as picked by guided holiday company, Trafalgar:
The Loire Valley, France
The verdant landscape of the Loire Valley is a peaceful retreat in the springtime. The sun shines yet the weather is cool, a refreshing time to be out and about exploring the countryside by foot or by bicycle. Get an authentic taste of the rustic setting at the valley's 17th century L'Etape Gourmande farm set against blooming sunflower fields and dine on the local produce like the farm's goat's cheese accompanied by a glass of local wine.
Vienna, Austria
With fewer visitors in the low season, springtime is the best time for sightseeing in Vienna. In May, parks and gardens across the city are in full bloom like the Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens presenting an impressive, colourful display of about 360,000 spring flowers. Enjoy the city's festival season with anything from food fairs to outdoor concerts. Otherwise, simply wander the city and marvel at the historic architecture and stop by a Viennese coffee house to complete the city experience.
Beijing, China
The cooler temperatures at this time of the year is the perfect time to hop between Tiananmen Square and Beijing's many parks and temples where trees are full of blossom. You can take a rickshaw between neighbourhoods, stopping at traditional tea houses along the way, but don't miss the impressive Forbidden Palace. This Unesco World Heritage Site features 180 acres of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens, making for a once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing experience.
New Orleans, North America
Springtime is when celebrations take over the colourful city of New Orleans. Whether you can catch a festival or not, the city still offers a vibrant music scene with toe-tapping jazz performances and a delicious array of Creole and Cajun fare. It's no wonder that springtime is said to be the best time to visit!
There's no better place to see flowers in full bloom than the Dades Valley where fields of roses fill the landscape come spring. – Trafalgar pic, February 4, 2016.The Dades Valley, Morocco
Visit Dades Valley in May and you'll see why the region is known as the valley of roses. The flowers are harvested in springtime to produce rose water, oil and perfume. The end of the harvest is marked by a Rose Festival where thousands gather to celebrate by dancing, eating and watching a procession. The mild climate is also particularly suited for taking a walking trail to the gorgeous rose-filled landscape.
Make your springtime holiday plans by logging on to www.trafalgar.com for quality guided tours. – February 4, 2016.
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments